Curtain-stretcher.



W. SGHWAB.

CURTAIN STRET APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 14, 1910.

CHER.

Patented July 5, 1910.

Qwuemtom W. SCHWAB.

CURTAIN STRETGHBR.

APPLICATION FILED r113. 14, 1910.

Patented July 5, 1910.

no a Animals JL Un 1C lit/Ea.

WILLIAM SGHWAIB, OF ROGKAWAY, OHIO.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SoHWAB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockaway, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had 'to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in stretching frames, and more particularly one adapted for stretching curtains while they are being dried.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character and provide one which may be adjusted to receive curtains of different sizes, and which when not in use may be taken apart and compactly folded for storage or transportation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved adjustable curtain stretching frame set up ready for use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the same; Figs. 3 and 4. are sectional views taken respectively 011 the planes indicated by the lines 33 and H in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the guide and clamping device on one of the main stretcher bars; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the slidable clamp on the intermediate brace bar.

Referring to the drawings in detail the numeral 1 denotes the four main bars of the stretcher frame. These bars are of suitable size and preferably of rectangular shape in cross section; and at one end of each of them is secured a metallic guiding and clamping device 2 which receives one or the other of said bars. The several bars 1 have upon their upper faces rows of pegs or pins 3 with which the curtain is engaged, and also provided on these upper faces of said bars are scale graduations 4 preferably feet and fractions thereof. Each of the devices 2 has at its inner end a socket 5 which receives one end of one of the bars 1, as shown in Fig. 2, the device being secureol on said bar by screws 6 or other fastenings. Each of said devices 2 has its intermediate portion channeled as at 7 to slidably receive one of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 14, 1910.

Patented July 5, 191G. Serial No. 543,678.

the other bars 1, and the top of the channeled guide portion 7 is formed with a transverse opening 8 through which the pins 3 may pass when the frame is being adjusted. The outer end of each of the devices or members 2 is provided with a bracket loop 9 adapted to receive the reduced shouldered upper end of one of four supporting legs 10, which latter are removably secured in the loops 9 by clamping screws 11. A clamping screw 12 is provided in the threaded opening in the bottom of the channel portion 7 and it is adapted to impinge against the bar 1 in said channeled portion to retain the latter in adjusted position.

In order to strengthen the frame I preferably provide an intermediate bracing bar 13 which is similar to one of the main bars 1 with the exception that it is not provided with the pins or pegs 3 and does not carry the devices 2. Slidably mounted on the bar 13, which latter is graduated in feet and inches, are two clamps 14: having loop-shaped portions 15 which straddle said bar 13 and also having spaced right angular clamp arms 16 disposed on opposite sides of the bar 13 and adapted to engage one of the bars 1, whereby the two bars may be fastened together. Clamping screws 17 are arranged in threaded openings in the bottom portions of the slidable clamps l4 and adapted to impinge against the bar 13 to retain them in adjusted position and to draw the angular arm 16 firmly into engagement with the upper faces -of the main bars 1, as shown in Fig. 4. The

ends of the bar 13 have secured to them socket loops 18 which receive the reduced upper shouldered ends of supporting legs 19, the latter being retained in position by clamping screws 20 arranged in the socket loops 18, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the invention is set up for use as shown in Fig. 1 its parts may be readily adjusted to receive a curtain of any size, within certain limits, and the curtain may be readily applied to or removed from the frame. When the device is not in use the several parts may be quickly disconnected and placed in parallel relation to provide a very compact bundle that may be readily stored away or transported.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a curtain stretcher, the combination with opposing bars of a stretching frame, of a brace bar arranged transversely beneath and engaged with said opposing frame bars, fastening members slidably arranged on said brace bar and adapted to engage the frame bars, each of said members consisting of a rectangular plate formed with a centrally arranged threaded opening and at one end with spaced parallel arms disposed adjacent the side edges of said plate and bent angularly with respect to said plate, said arms being adapted to receive the brace bar between them and having their extremities bent to form clamping fingers to engage one of the frame bars, said plate be- VILLIAM SOHVVAB.

Witnesses:

FRANK REILLEY, Amos W. LAKE. 

